Christopher Beach, the president and artistic director of the La Jolla Music Society, is passionate about the society’s concerts. ■ But his favorite moments are the society’s board meetings. ■ “We meet seven times a year and we have a little light supper about a half-hour before the meeting at one of our member’s law offices,” Beach said. “I always get there early to make sure things are set up. And as they come in, the spirit, the sense of common purpose, the camaraderie, starts filling up the room. People greet one another with great warmth and it just feels like wave after wave of good will.” ■ Entering its 45th season, in which it is offering 29 concerts, the most it has ever presented, the La Jolla Music Society is feeling good about itself. ■ Even though arts organizations from the San Diego Symphony to Mainly Mozart are presenting more chamber music — the society’s core product — the La Jolla Music Society continues to flourish. ■ “I think the state of the organization is very strong,” said Clifford Schireson, a director at Brandes Investment Partners and chair of the society’s board of directors. “You can measure that from a couple perspectives. We’re broadening

our reach into the community with programming that attracts new audiences, we’re solid financially, and we have a very involved and committed board, staff and volunteers. … I’m thrilled to be a small part of it.” ■ If the San Diego Symphony is the community’s primary producer of classical music, the Music Society remains the primary presenter of classical music, although it has also diversified into jazz, world music and dance.

In 2013-14, it will bring in artists of the stature of Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, Joshua Bell, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (for four concerts). Also scheduled are the Silk Road Ensemble, Japan’s Siro-A, the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and Wynton Marsalis (with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra).

“What makes La Jolla Music Society different from the other major institutions in San Diego is that we are one night only,” Beach said. “Every single concert is one night only, and that is the essence of presenting. My job is to curate a series of individual concerts into a season that defines the institution’s artistic character.”

“For me, what these concerts do this season is define greatness.”

Board activism

Board involvement seems to be part of the society’s DNA. Although its origins go back to 1941 with the founding of the Musical Arts Society of La Jolla (which later was associated with UC San Diego through the involvement of Roger and Ellen Revelle and other early faculty members and their spouses), the society’s official history began 45 years ago in 1968, with the incorporation of the La Jolla Chamber Players.